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THE WILSON DAILY TIMES Hollywood link benefits the charter school By Alex Keown Daily Times Staff Writer When artist and Wilson native Jesse Raudales returned to Wilson several months ago for a visit, he was "blown away" by the new Sallie B. Howard School for Arts & Education on Herring Avenue. Raudales, 32, is a former art director for the Arts Council of Wilson and for the Youth Enrichment Program, a predecessor of the charter school. Raudales noticed that the charter school did not have a gymnasium, so he contacted his friend, actor Tommy Ford, to see what they could do. "I wanted to help out my hometown," said Raudales, who now lives in Los Angeles. And Ford, 38, was eager to help, although he had no idea where the Sallie B. Howard school was, or what its mission is. "I had never heard of Wilson, North Carolina, before I met Jesse," Ford said Thursday afternoon in the conference room at Sallie B. Howard. "But (Jesse) got so excited and passionate over pushing the fund-raiser, we decided to do it." Despite not knowing Wilson, Ford said he was overwhelmed at the charter school. "I never anticipated it would be a state-of-the-art facility," he said. "I was overwhelmingly surprised." Ford, best known as Tommy on the television show "Martin," has authored several books geared towards children. The books, Ford said, seek to reinforce a positive message to the readers. One of the books, titled "Hey ... Do You Have A Positive Attitude?" offers 12 steps toward having the best outlook on life, including doing your best in school, being a good sport and following the Golden Rule. "Each of the books centers on themes of personal responsibility and self-esteem," Ford said. "We tell them to 'stop making excuses, get off your butt and get yourself out of the hole.'" The books, featuring Ford's message and Raudales' artwork, are at the heart of a fund-raising project for the charter school's gym. "We're going to use the books like Girl Scout cookies," Ford said, reclining in a leather office chair. "We're going to make a lot of money off the books." The plan is simple. Each student will be given two free copies of the books to use as samples. They will be charged with selling a minimum of 10 books, at $10 each. Ford said he expects the charter school will need to raise $500,000 to finance the gymnasium. Even though charter schools are public institutions, they do not receive public funding for capital projects. The school will receive 50 percent of the proceeds from the sale of the books. The remaining 50 percent will be used to finance incentive prizes for the children, including new bicycles, computers and trips. Whatever is left over will go toward paying off printing and other expenses. "With the rewards, the kids will see that they are able to start and finish something," Ford said. This is not the first fund-raising project for schools in which Ford has involved himself. However, the fund-raiser for the school is a first. This will be the first time Ford is giving the books to the school at no charge. Ford and some celebrity friends plan to return to Wilson in the spring to host a basketball game for the school. While Ford was entertaining questions, the namesake of the school, Sallie B. Howard herself, came into the room. Ford was quick to stand and hug the 87-year-old educator and congratulate her on her mission. Ford and the school's director, JoAnne Woodard, quickly explained the fund-raiser to Howard. "You're so good at what you are doing. It makes me feel so happy," Howard said. Ford gave Howard an autographed copy of one of his books, but Howard said she didn't want to take it as a gift, she wanted to go out and sell the books herself to raise money for the school. Getting involved with children has always been one of Ford's passions. However, once he realized the power and influence he holds as a celebrity, Ford knew he had a chance to make a positive impact in the lives of America's youth. "Young people are mirroring their heroes. I thought what would happen when they get a positive impression from a celebrity," said Ford, who doesn't smoke, drink or take narcotics. "There is no better feeling than giving back. Acting is my occupation, it pays the bills. But in life, my job is to give back. It may not be financially rewarding, but it is filling." Ford arrived in Wilson Thursday morning and will stay until Sunday. A book signing and reception will be Saturday afternoon, beginning at 4 p.m. at Sallie B. Howard. You may reach Alex Keown at alexjk@wilsondaily.com or at 265-7847.

Today's Black Woman Radio Show with Jennifer Keitt! Official Interview Transcript 1998, Today's Black Woman Radio Show, Jennifer Keitt NO PORTION MAY BE REPRODUCED, EXCEPT FOR PERSONAL READING WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE TODAY’S BLACK WOMAN RADIO SHOW AND JENNIFER KEITT An Interview with Tommy Ford, Actor, Author of " Be Still and Know." Jennifer Keitt Question: It's a series, one truly biblically based, one for general market, shall we say. Tell me about it. Tommy Ford Answer: Well "Be Still and Know" is a workbook designed to help young people with their spiritual walk with the Lord. What it does is it goes into the alphabet from A through Z identifying many of the challenges that young people go through in their daily life; peer- pressure, loneliness, mistakes. It does many things, it has several components, each letter represents a vocabulary word and that vocabulary word identifies a challenge that these young people are going through in their lives. Then it has a definition of that vocabulary word which defines a challenge in a young person's life. Then it has a Bible verse, which offers a solution to the challenge that this young person is going through in his or her life. It then has questions and answers, which allow he or she to apply the solution to their daily lives. In addition to that, it's a coloring book with situations and environments that young people can relate to and it has a break down of the Bible verse in our language. Q: As a mom of four, I'll tell you looking through it what I really like, you show young Black boys. A: I show young Black boys, I show young Black girls, this is my story, this is my song. This is what I wanted to have and what I needed to have when I was growing up. Now I went to Christian school all the way up untill I was in High school. So I know the word, and I've studied it for a long time, which is the key to my success. You can look at me and tell, it's not because I am pretty and I'm not the most talented Negro around. But Thy word have I hidden in my heart so that I might not sin against Thee and because God knows just how powerful that is, He knows that I'm gonna mess up. But I have the power then to know what to do now. I don't have to turn to alcohol or drugs. Any time there was a challenge, I knew how to deal with it biblically. Even when I made mistakes, even when I messed up, I knew better, Hello! I knew that goodness and mercy was following me even in places that I had no business going and I still go to those places sometimes. And goodness and mercy still kicks me in the pants and say Negro you know you ain't got no business up in here. So what the word will do is not only guide me and direct me, but make me lie down as well. Q: Well you know, when you talk about violence and overcoming challenges that children find themselves in today, what kind of help can confidence and beliefs be? A: Well peer-pressure is so important, it's powerful. I want to be like my buddy is, but if I'm confident that I'm a leader, not a follower. If I am confident, if I feel good about myself, if I recognize my power and strength; I don't have to follow. Like I said before, I was in high school before I went to my first public school and I could not understand these folks. Why are they making choices like this, what is wrong with these Negroes? They really didn't feel they had too many choices. Where I was equipped and ready to move on and looking forward to moving on and knew what I had to do to face many of these challenges. Even in the "Stop the Violence" book where it does not have Bible scriptures, it has words of encouragement inspiration and motivation; it's still about empowering oneself.

Iverson Celebrity Classic provides role models for inner-city youth By JESSICA RYAN Courier-Post Staff CAMDEN As the NBA Jam heated up outside Saturday, special guests kept things cool during the Rap Session inside the Tweeter Center as part of the Allen Iverson Celebrity Summer Classic. More than 200 youths from boys' and girls' groups of Philadelphia and New Jersey, the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program, Philadelphia High School Academy, the UPN Health Teen Initiative programs, and other invited children gathered for a two-hour Rap Session themed " Beginning Today." "To develop the dreams of tomorrow, we have to begin today," said Rashard Wright, a representative from the event's sponsor, Crossover Promotions. "This is to provide role models for the inner-city youth; to link celebrities with resilient children. Encouraging words and role models motivate." Actors Tommy Mikal Ford and Terrance Howard spoke, along with former WNBA player Chantel Tremitiere, NBA all-star Stephon Marbury from the Phoenix Suns and boxer Jacqui Frazier-Lyde while waiting for Iverson's arrival. Frazier-Lyde, who is also a lawyer, told youths to, " fight the good fights," and Ford expressed how a healthy lifestyle was the key to success. "To stay in school and believe in everything you can believe in," is what Lumberton resident Jezreel Palmer, 17, learned. "Everyone that was there was a positive role model." The session ended with Iverson appearing for a short question-and-answer session, a moment that 8-year-old Devonte Knox and his family drove seven hours to see. "I wanted to come, play basketball and have fun," said Knox, who lives with his family in Durham, N.C. And the best part of his trip? "Meeting Allen Iverson," he said. Iverson, who led the Sixers to the NBA Finals before the team succumbed in five games to the Lakers, spoke to the informal gathering about being a leader. "If you get better as a person, you get better as a leader," Iverson said. "Do whatever it takes to be what you want to be." Iverson will finish his program's weekend of activities with a celebrity basketball game at 3 p.m. today in the Liacouras Center at Temple University. Following the Rap Session, the audience joined hundreds of fans participating in the outside festivities at the NBA Jam Van. The Jam Van, a 68,000-pound, 67-foot, 18-wheeler, rolled into Camden and transformed itself into 5,000 square feet of interactive basketball activities. Five baskets were used for free-throw shooting, 3-point shooting and slam-dunking contests. There also were NBA video games and videos shown on big-screen TVs to add to the carnival-like atmosphere. "We got to get autographs, look at NBA history and participate in contests," said Alex Kassarich, 11, of Wynwood, Pa. "It was great."